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To Asa Gray 3 January 1877

Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.

Jan 3. 1877

My dear Gray,

I have just received your letter of Dec 22nd. It is very good of you to be willing to send me such rare specimens; but I could not in any case think of accepting your offer on the mere chance of making out whether the plants are heterostyled.1 The chance moreover would be very small without better specimens, as with dead plants no evidence I think is sufficient except difference in size of pollen-grains. I have lately given Kew so much trouble that I have vowed I would give no more for some time; but hereafter I will find out whether they can spare me any of the plants in question.2

I am very glad of the notice about the black pigs: my faith in Wyman is so great that I have not been shaken by Wallace, who founds his speculation on a very feeble basis.3